schumacher battery tender--mondial t | FerrariChat
Buy

schumacher battery tender--mondial t

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by fgg, Nov 23, 2007.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. fgg

    fgg Karting

    Jul 5, 2005
    143
    Dearborn, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Frank Guido
    #1 fgg, Nov 23, 2007
    Time to put the Mondial t into hibernation. Now I know I am not mechanically inclined---I like to own them, look at them and drive them, I have no desire to do anything other than wash and wax them. Call me shallow. LOL.

    I have just filled the tank, added stabil, inflated the tires and have attempted to hook up the battery tender. Either I am a total moron or the design of battery access is ridiculous on the Mondial t. Yes, I have read all the previous posts, but I just could not believe I would have so much trouble hooking up the clamp to the post. I understand the removal of the panel, etc to get to the battery for removal--but did I have to do that to just get the clamp on the positve terminal--of course, assuming I have got the positive terminal. The battery looks like it came from NAPA auto parts and I could not see any positive or negative markings. The posts look to be the same size, except the post "I picked" as the positive terminal is the one that had the larger connector on it. That post is on the outside and not the inside where the braided ground strap exists (I think that is what that is). In any event, I connected the positive clamp to the post and the negative clamp to the frame of the fan (is that ok). Plugged the battery tender in (Schumacher --automatic battery charger-1.5 amp--model #1562A) and the light went green immediately. Is that correct? The owner's manual says that it should go amber and then go green when fully charged and then I guess goes into float mode. I did the connection several times and it always starts green (in fact its green even if the clamps are not connected to anything and the charger is plugged in). So am I doing this right? Is it green simply because my battery is already at full charge? Or am I on the verge of blowing things up? Let me know tech-gurus. THANKS AS USUAL.
     
  2. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,948
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    #2 285ferrari, Nov 23, 2007
    I have a tender like yours. The green light stays on when plugged in , but not connected. I have come home after driving and connected mine also and immediately got a green light. So I think you are OK..
     
  3. DGS

    DGS Six Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2003
    69,580
    MidTN
    Full Name:
    DGS
    #3 DGS, Nov 24, 2007
    I have a Schumacher also. I use a cigarette lighter plug, so I worry about my connection also. (Lighter plugs aren't very good connectors.)

    Easy check: Hook everything up and turn on the charger. If it goes green immediately, turn on the headlights (ignition off). It should go orange pretty quickly.
     
  4. fgg

    fgg Karting

    Jul 5, 2005
    143
    Dearborn, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Frank Guido
    #4 fgg, Nov 24, 2007
    Tried the headlights on test. Still solid green. I don't believe I have it setup right? Help?
     
  5. DGS

    DGS Six Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2003
    69,580
    MidTN
    Full Name:
    DGS
    #5 DGS, Nov 24, 2007
    If you're just trying to identify the "+" terminal of the battery, and you don't have a voltmeter, get a 12v bulb and a jumper wire or two. Hook the brass socket connection of the bulb to the car frame. Then run a thin wire between the bulb center contact and the battery posts (CAREFULLY -- do NOT short from the battery to ground -- there's a lot of potential current there). A bulb between the negative post and the frame won't light up. A bulb between positive and ground will.

    That can be a handful to jury rig. Alligator clip jumper wires are available at Radio Shack.

    And, for that matter, so are multimeters. Having a meter is handy for any kind of wiring work, for checking your charging system, battery, etc. Given the nature of Ferrari wiring, it might not be a bad investment.
     
  6. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Franklin E. Parker
    #6 parkerfe, Nov 25, 2007
  7. Oengus

    Oengus F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Sep 29, 2004
    10,782
    Between timing belts/chains or West Palm Beach FL
    Full Name:
    Chas
    #7 Oengus, Nov 25, 2007
    Anybody got a link to the Schumacher tenders?
     
  8. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,948
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    #8 285ferrari, Nov 25, 2007
    I got mine at Walmart--they stock them..
     
  9. Oengus

    Oengus F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Sep 29, 2004
    10,782
    Between timing belts/chains or West Palm Beach FL
    Full Name:
    Chas
    #9 Oengus, Nov 25, 2007
    Thx 285
     
  10. Oengus

    Oengus F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Sep 29, 2004
    10,782
    Between timing belts/chains or West Palm Beach FL
    Full Name:
    Chas
    #10 Oengus, Nov 25, 2007
  11. DGS

    DGS Six Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2003
    69,580
    MidTN
    Full Name:
    DGS
    #11 DGS, Nov 25, 2007
    Yeah, that's the older unit (like the one I have). Auto Zone has the newer version for $27 (new).

    Anyone know the "street price" on the DelTran? It used to be comparable with the Schumacher, but it looks like they've upped the price on the "Plus" since they came out with the "junior".
     
  12. fgg

    fgg Karting

    Jul 5, 2005
    143
    Dearborn, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Frank Guido
    #12 fgg, Nov 26, 2007
    Either I have a super battery with full charge, or more likely, I have got the charger hooked up wrong. Left the lights on for 15 minutes to induce the amber light to come on--no success--still green. This cannot be right. Do I have to remove the car's connections on the positive post to put the charger clamp on, or can I simply connect the charger clamp onto the post and connector as one would in jumping the battery? BTW the post and connector are too big for the small charger clamp to grab onto, so I only have it connected to the nut which holds the connector to the post? Is that insufficient for it to send a charge such that I am only getting the same green light as if neither clamp were attached to anything with the power on?
     
  13. fgg

    fgg Karting

    Jul 5, 2005
    143
    Dearborn, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Frank Guido
    #13 fgg, Nov 28, 2007
    Just a bump to get helppppppppppppppppppppppppp.
     
  14. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,026
    USA
    #14 f355spider, Nov 28, 2007
    http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=321%2D2100&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D827%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D%2CStreet%20Electrical&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D247%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D0%2CBattery%20Chargers&Gift=False&HSLB=False&mscssid=0733C01CABAF4549A07340F97598F39C

    This is about as cheap as it gets. But really, these are work about the same. You can buy the Black and Decker one for less than $20 at Wal Mart, and it includes a third wiring option, a cigarette lighter adapter. Target carries the Duracell branded version, same deal, includes the cigarette lighter adapter, and around $20.
     
  15. fgg

    fgg Karting

    Jul 5, 2005
    143
    Dearborn, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Frank Guido
    #15 fgg, Nov 29, 2007
    ok guys, the posts are getting off track, helpppppppppp meeeeeeeeeeee, thanks.
     
  16. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Mar 31, 2006
    32,793
    East Central, FL
    Full Name:
    Wade O.
    #16 Wade, Nov 29, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I permanently mounted one of these in an inconspicuous area under the hood of my Mondial 8. Have someone take care of that for you and your worries will be over. It has a standard 3-prong electrical connector so all you need is an extension cord.

    "Schumacher SE-1-12S Fully Automatic Onboard Battery Charger - 1.5 Amps"

    I got mine at Walmart.

    http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SE-1-12S-Automatic-Onboard-Battery/dp/B0000AXTUY/ref=pd_sim_auto_img_1/002-2743938-9863234
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  17. DGS

    DGS Six Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2003
    69,580
    MidTN
    Full Name:
    DGS
    #17 DGS, Nov 30, 2007
    Radio shack stocks the same connectors. But they're only good for tenders, they're not rated to connect a full 10A charger through them. You can get higher rated connectors at Radio Shack or online, but you might have to splice some wires -- a soldering iron and electrical tape is handy.

    The light goes orange almost immediately on my Schumacher when I turn the headlights on. (But then, my "Red Top" is probably on its last legs.)

    No, you don't have to take the connector off the battery. Tenders are connected in parallel, not in series.

    Try falling back to the instructions that came with the tender before moving on to fancier connection schemes. Get the basics going first, then innovate.
     
  18. Bandit

    Bandit Formula Junior

    Dec 21, 2003
    493
    Central MS
    Full Name:
    Mike B.
    #18 Bandit, Nov 30, 2007
    On my Schumacher tender there is a switch to choose between 12 and 6 volt batteries. I accidentally hit the switch to 6v one time and had the same symptoms as you (green light even though I knew the battery wasn't fully charged). Flip the switch back and forth and see if that gets the amber light to come on.

    You also need to make sure the plug connecting the battery clips to the wire coming out of the charger is seated well. An open circuit will also cause the green light to stay on.
     
  19. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,026
    USA
    #19 f355spider, Dec 1, 2007
    Frank, my thought is your battery tender is working as intended. DGS's first reply was a good idea, turn your headlights on while the battery tender is plugged in...it should draw down the battery and cause the tender to start charging almost immediately, or within a minute. Another simple test. Turn on the headlights, and leave them on for 10 minutes with tender unplugged. Then plug in the battery tender....it most definitely should require charging for several minutes or more with green light off.
     
  20. fgg

    fgg Karting

    Jul 5, 2005
    143
    Dearborn, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Frank Guido
    #20 fgg, Dec 1, 2007
    Thanks for the input everyone. No luck so far. I have tried all of the suggestions and still not getting an amber light. Assuming that the battery could be in the car with the positive post toward the mid-line of the car and not the outside, then I would have this hooked up wrong. But I am assuming that the positive post is, in fact, the one with the larger connector attached, which is on the side nearest the fender. It has two leads joined into the one connector on the battery post---sorry, that's the best description I can give as a non-tech kind of guy. I think that it is the positive post because the braided strap, which I believe attaches to the negative post (negative ground, right?), is on the inside toward the mid-line of the car. So, I have the positive charger clamp on the nut of the connector which is on the post (on the side nearest the fender). I cannot get this small clamp to go over the post with the connector on it. Is that the possible source of not getting an amber, in essence, nothing is going to the battery at all--as if the clamp was not on, which would then show a green light per the owner's manual? Once again, helpppppppppppppp. Thanks
     
  21. Ducati

    Ducati Formula Junior

    Jan 23, 2004
    363
    So. Cal
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #21 Ducati, Dec 1, 2007
    I am not familiar with the Schumacher charger but I highly recommend the Battery Tender Plus. This is by far the best charger I have ever used. I have motorcycles with 6 year old batteries that are working fine because of this particular charger. I use it on a Stradale and Maserati Gransport. All are working perfectly.

    I have thrown out many small Transformer type chargers that have fried some of my other batteries. Just an FYI since my experience is so good with Battery Tender Plus. Note: The Battery Tender is different and I did have a problem with one of those. The "Plus" model is far superior. IMO
     
  22. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,026
    USA
    #22 f355spider, Dec 1, 2007
    Based on all the posts here, my final recommendation is to return the Shumacher if you can, and get your money back...tell them it appears defective. THEN, go to Target and get a Duracell battery tender or WalMart and get a Black and Decker battery tender. Both brands come with three methods of attachment, but most importantly a CIGARETTE LIGHTER ADAPTER. Use that and you have no question it is connected properly, and no risk of driving away with it connected either. ;)
     
  23. Bandit

    Bandit Formula Junior

    Dec 21, 2003
    493
    Central MS
    Full Name:
    Mike B.
    #23 Bandit, Dec 1, 2007
    Touch the two clips on the tender together. The green light should go out and the red "problem" light should come on. If that doesn't happen you have a bad tender and need to take it back. Do you have a volt meter to measure the voltage coming out of the tender to see if it is correct?
     

Share This Page